Motor Impairment Assessment
Objective: Evaluate sensorimotor impairments in animals with blocked versus normal dendritic growth to assess functional recovery from cortical damage
Gather these items before starting the experiment. Check off items as you prepare.
Materials1
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Protocol Steps
Induce unilateral cortical damage
Create unilateral damage to the forelimb representation area of the sensorimotor cortex in adult rats
Note: This is the lesion condition that initiates the experimental protocol
View evidence from paper
“Unilateral damage to the forelimb representation area of the sensorimotor cortex in adult rats”
Assess baseline motor behavior
Observe and document forelimb use patterns and motor behavior following cortical lesion
Note: Establish baseline asymmetries in forelimb use
View evidence from paper
“The overgrowth of dendrites was related in time to disuse of the contralateral (to the lesion) forelimb and over-reliance on the ipsilateral forelimb”
Apply movement restriction during dendritic overgrowth period
Restrict movements of the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion using one-holed vests during the period of dendritic overgrowth (approximately 0-18 days postlesion)
Note: This intervention blocks the expected dendritic arborization
View evidence from paper
“movements of the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion were restricted during the period of dendritic overgrowth through the use of one-holed vests. This interfered with the increase in dendritic arborization”
Allow unrestricted forelimb use control condition
Allow animals to use both forelimbs or only the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion without restriction during dendritic overgrowth period
Note: Control condition showing expected dendritic increases
View evidence from paper
“animals that were allowed to use both forelimbs, or only the forelimb ipsilateral to the lesion, showed the expected increases”
Perform sham-operated control
Conduct sham surgery on control rats and force them to use only one forelimb
Note: Determines if lesion is necessary for dendritic overgrowth
View evidence from paper
“When sham-operated rats were forced to use only one forelimb, no significant increases in arborization were found”
Assess sensorimotor impairments
Evaluate and measure sensorimotor impairments in animals with blocked dendritic growth versus normal dendritic growth
Note: Greater sensorimotor impairments found when dendritic growth was blocked
View evidence from paper
“greater sensorimotor impairments were found when the dendritic growth was blocked”
Monitor dendritic pruning period
Observe dendritic pruning phase (after approximately 18 days postlesion) and associated return to symmetrical forelimb use
Note: Partial elimination of dendritic processes occurs during this phase
View evidence from paper
“Arbor size was maximum at approximately 18 d postlesion, following which there was a partial elimination, or pruning, of dendritic processes”
Immobilize impaired limb during pruning period
In second experiment, immobilize the impaired limb during the dendritic pruning period
Note: Immobilization does not prevent elimination of dendritic processes
View evidence from paper
“immobilization of the impaired limb during the pruning period did not prevent the elimination of processes”